Good Performances from the Irish Team on 1st Day of European U23 Athletics Championships, Ostrava, Czech Republic

14 Jul 2011


There were some excellent performances today from the Irish team on Day 1 of the 8th biennial European U23 Athletics Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, coupled with some disappointments.


Jessie Barr, the 22 year old Waterford athlete from Ferrybank AC, showed her real potential once again when she qualified for the final of the 400 metres hurdles on Saturday. Barr finished 2nd in her heat in 58.01 and qualified comfortably for the final. Barr broke the Irish U23 record with a time of 57.21 at the European Team Championships in Izmir last month. The talented young Waterford woman has been drawn in lane 8 for Saturday's final, and will up against a quality field for the medals, especially the two Ukrainian athletes who have both run inside 57 seconds this season.


In the men's 800m heats, Tallaght AC's Anthony Lieghio ran a timely personal best time of 1:48.06 to finish 3rd and qualify automatically for tomorrow's final. His team-mate, the tall and determined athlete from Letterkenny AC Darren McBrearty, was caught up in slow tactical affair in his heat, and finished in what will be a disappointing 5th position for the talented Donegal man, in a time of 1:49.34, outside qualification for the final.


Another Irish 400 m hurdler, Dooneen AC's Timmy Crowe, ran a fine race to qualify for the semi-finals of his event in great style, posting the fastest time of his life of 51.24 in finishing second in his heat. In addition, the relatively inexperienced Paul Byrne (St Abban's AC) also advanced to the semi-final after clocking 51.90, equalling his best ever time. Britain's Nathan Woodward set the fastest time of 50.85 in the first round, even though he jogged off the final hurdle to win with ease.


The final Irish athlete in action today was Clonliffe's Brian Gregan in the heats of the men's 400m. Not one to let the team down, the big man from Tallaght put in an excellent performance to finish 2nd in his heat, in season's best time of 46.32 seconds, to qualify automatically for Saturday's final. If Gregan can build on this performance, he will gunning for a medal of some sort come final-time.


Former European Junior 100m finalist, Ferrybank AC's Niamh Whelan, was unfortunately eliminated in her heat of the women's 100 metres by finishing 6th in 11.89 seconds. The University of Ulster's Adam McMullen also failed to progress in the men's Long Jump. McMullen jumped 7.27 to place 8th in his qualification group. In action tomorrow for the Irish team on Day 2 of the Championships are:

  • Anthony Lieghio (Tallaght AC) in the men's 800m final.
  • Timmy Crowe (Dooneen AC) & Paul Byrne (St Abbans AC) in the semi-finals of the men's 400m Hurdles.
  • Steven Colvert (Crusaders AC) & Chris Russell (Ferrybank AC) in the men's 200m heats.
  • Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank AC) in the women's 200m heats.
  • David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers AC) in the heats of the men's 3000m Steeplechase.
  • Kourosh Foroughi (Star of the Sea) in the men's High Jump qualification
  • Claire Wilkinson (Ballymena & Antrim) in the women's Pole Vault Qualification.


The highly competitive European Athletics U23 Championships act as bridge between junior and senior competition, and offer an excellent opportunity for aspiring Olympic, World & European champions to compete against the best athletes in their own age group.